Overview

Overview

Since 2010, the U.S. EPA has awarded the Wisconsin Brownfields Coalition $2.7 million in Brownfield Assessment Grants. The RR Program administers these funds through the Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, and utilizes the funding to aid local governments and others in investigating brownfields throughout the state.

Contractor Services Awards

Contractor Services Awards cover Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, with potential for limited site investigation work at selected sites. Sites in this program should generally be less than 10 acres and have petroleum or hazardous substance contamination which can be assessed for less than $35,000.

For projects selected for Contractor Services Awards, the DNR will assign one of its contractors to perform Phase I and/or Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs), or a limited site investigation if warranted. These contractors were selected through a competitive procurement process completed in October 2016, and are currently AECOM, The Sigma Group, Bay West and Ramaker & Associates.

Eligible sites

Sites meeting the project profile will be:

a closed or closing manufacturing plant, chiefly including sites such as assembly lines, foundries, dairies, electroplaters, and other industrial facilities that meets the federal definition of a brownfield site; and

a single property of less than 10 acres, who's complexity could be assessed for $35,000 or less.

Sites must meet the federal definition of a brownfield:

"...real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."

Ineligible sites

Sites where the local government has caused the contamination.

The site is listed (or proposed for listing) on the National Priorities List (NPL).

The site is subject to unilateral administrative orders, court orders, administrative orders on consent or judicial consent decree issued to or entered into by parties under CERCLA.

The site is subject to the jurisdiction, custody or control of the United States government. (NOTE: Land held in trust by the United States government for an Indian tribe is eligible for brownfield funding.)

The site work is eligible for funding under other programs such as the Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Fund (DERF), the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Act (PECFA), and the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program (ACCP).

The site is a former gas or service station or agricultural coop.

Sites needing a property-specific determination for eligibility

Sites where a viable potential responsible party exists, but where there is no documented contamination.

The site is subject to planned or ongoing CERCLA removal actions.

The site is subject to unilateral administrative orders, court orders, administrative orders on consent or judicial consent decree or to which a permit has been issued by the United States or an authorized state under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), or the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

The site is subject to corrective action orders under RCRA (sections 3004(u) or 3008(h)) and to which a corrective action permit or order has been issued or modified to require the implementation of corrective measures.

The site is a land disposal unit that has filed a closure notification under subtitle C of RCRA and to which closure requirements have been specified in a closure plan or permit.

There has been a release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) subject to remediation under TSCA at the site.

Portions of sites for which funding for remediation has been obtained from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund.

Petroleum sites

Petroleum sites may be eligible for this program if the following criteria apply.

If petroleum contamination is discovered or confirmed, the site would be of "relatively low risk." Specifically, LUST trust fund monies have not been applied to this site and the state is not aware of any outstanding requirements under the federal Oil Pollution Act.

If petroleum contamination is discovered or confirmed, there would be no viable responsible parties.

This property is not subject to a corrective action order under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Sec. 9003 (h).

No viable responsible party exists that can address the contamination.

Activities requested cannot be eligible for reimbursement by other state programs.

Generally, costs associated with a Phase I or Phase II environmental site assessment are eligible for funding. In addition, costs for a site investigation, limited demolition or underground storage tank (UST) removal may be considered.

Application

Application process

Familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements for this funding.

Document eligibility as (1) an eligible applicant, and (2) as having an eligible site.

If you are a local government or Redevelopment Authority, prepare a signed municipal resolution (see "Model documents" below) to apply for services.

Sign an agreement allowing the DNR and contractors to access the site.

Complete the application form.

Submit one hard copy of the application, and one digital version of the application on CD Rom or via email. Supplemental information, such as Phase I environmental site assessments, can be included on the CD-ROM, rather than as a hard copy. You can also discuss uploading the application and past reports to a FTP site with program manager, Tom Coogan. Mail the application materials to: